This is the 62nd of a series of bulletins produced by ISE to update members on key data and policy related to Covid-19. This bulletin covers the period 3rd September – 16th September 2021.

You can access all of the Covid-19 bulletins on ISE insights.

Latest COVID-19 data

Data taken from Wikipedia and from the government’s Covid-19 dashboard.

The UK has now had over 7.3 million identified Covid-19 cases and 157,000 deaths (with Covid on the death certificate).

The number of new cases and deaths is continuing to rise every week.

Covid news

Data from the government’s Covid-19 dashboard.

• The government have decided to begin vaccinating young people under the age of 16.
• James Gaughan and Peter Sivey (University of York) argue that further lockdowns are unlikely but we may see a tightening of restrictions over the winter. While SAGE is arguing that there is a need for action to avoid a massive increase in hospitalisations.
• New data on Covid testing and cases released by the Office for National Statistics. They have also produced new data on the number of death of vaccinated people.
• Paul Hunter (University of East Anglia) asks how the Covid pandemic will end.

Education

• Covid has made the transition from primary school to secondary school more challenging argue Charlotte Bagnall and her colleagues
• Students need universities to prioritise inclusion and academic confidence in the years ahead argues Mary Curnock Cook.
• Stephen Smith explores the way Covid has increased students engagement with higher education careers services. 

The economy

• Weekly household spending fell by more than £100 during the pandemic argue the ONS. 

The labour market

Drawn from government data on unemployment and NEET levels.

• There are more than one million job vacancies according to the BBC.
• There are ongoing issues with skills and labour supply for drivers and care staff. The CBI warns that this shortage could last up to two years.
• The government has published an update on the Plan for Jobs policy, exploring its impact.
• Detailed commentary on the current labour market situation is offered by the Institute for Employment Studies and on the graduate labour market specifically by Charlie Ball.

Changing patterns of work

• London businesses are returning to (hybrid) working in the office reports Joanna Bourke in the Evening Standard. While some employers are seeking to lure staff back to the office with bonuses and ice-cream reports Kalyeena Makortoff in The Guardian.
• Skills shortages and changing patterns of work will have political implications according to The Guardian.

Student recruitment and development

• Cappfinity explore the new, post-pandemic hiring realities.
• Handshake examine how we can create effective hybrid or virtual careers events.
• Amberjack explore how businesses can find the tech talent that they need.